Celebrating Queen Esther's story of triumph over adversity.

original art by triciarobinson.com

Esther lived in ancient Persia about 100 years after the Babylonian captivity. When Esther’s parents died, the orphaned child was adopted and raised by her older cousin Mordecai.

One day, the King of the Persian Empire threw a lavish party. On the final day of the festivities, he called for his queen, Vashti, eager to flaunt her beauty to his guests. But the queen refused to appear.

Filled with anger, he deposed Queen Vashti and forever removed her from his presence. The King hosted a royal beauty pageant to find his new queen, and Esther was chosen for the throne.

Her cousin Mordecai became a minor official in the Persian government of Susa. Soon, Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate the King. He told Esther about the conspiracy, and she reported it to her husband, crediting Mordecai.

The plot was thwarted, and Mordecai’s act of kindness is preserved in the King’s Chronicles. At this time, the King’s highest official was a wicked man named Haman. He hated the Jews, especially Mordecai, who had refused to bow down to him.

Haman devised a scheme to have every Jew in Persia killed. The King agreed to his plan, not knowing his beloved queen was a Jewess.

Meanwhile, Mordecai learned of the plot and shared it with Esther, challenging her with these famous words: “Do not think that because you are in the King’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for our people will arise from another place, and you and your family will perish. And who knows that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14, NIV

Risking her own life, brave young Esther approached the King with a request. She invited him and Haman to a banquet where eventually she revealed her Jewish heritage to her husband the King, as well as Haman’s sinister plot to have her and her people killed.

In a rage, the King ordered Haman to be hung on the gallows—the same gallows Haman had built for Mordecai.

Mordecai was promoted to Haman’s high position. Jews were granted protection throughout the land. The people celebrated God’s tremendous deliverance. The joyous festival of Purim continues to this day and this year, it is celebrated on this day.